The Knowledge in Technology You Need
When transitioning your career into telehealth jobs, you’re ready to apply your medical expertise and key skills required. But what about the tech side? What do you need?
Technology is the reason for the rapid rise in the successful use of telehealth, and is the key to making your telehealth jobs more productive and enjoyable.
Technology knowledge is essential in telehealth – from hitting the ground running to conducting a perfect virtual consultation, getting 5-star ratings from patients, and boosting your earnings.
Here, we show you three crucial elements in tech that are a essential to excel in telehealth jobs.
Which Computer?
OK, you’re going to need a computer to connect with patients and healthcare platforms. But which is best? Should you get a Mac? Or a PC? Simply put, both will do the job for telehealth jobs, and it’s down to personal preference. But if you’re not sure on what they offer, here’s what you need to know:
Why a PC?
A PC can offer you a huge selection of options in features and qualities, which is great because it means you can scale them up or down to suit your budget and needs. However, if you’re not particularly tech-minded, this can be a little overwhelming. Here’s what you need to consider when choosing the right PC for you:
· Memory (RAM)
The higher the RAM, the better the PC’s overall performance. For telehealth, you need ideally a minimum of 8GB of RAM.
· Hard Drive
The hard drive also impacts the performance of the PC. Ensure you choose a PC that has an SSHD (Solid State Hard Drive), which usually starts at around 128 GB – this should be enough for everyday telehealth. However, if you will need extra storage for videos and photos, you can purchase external hard drives of larger capacity.
· Processing Speed
There’s no need to get too technical. Just know this: your PC needs at least 2 GHz – the higher, the better. Ask for the most recent processor version, ideally an Intel.
Why a Mac?
Choosing a Mac is much simpler, because they come pumped with decent elements that impact their performance, and therefore yours. Of course, this means they come at a cost, and you’ll find features you don’t even need, particularly with upgraded Macs.
Other Considerations
You should also consider keyboards, the mouse, and monitor size, which all depend on your needs or pain points, and where you may need extra support in ergonomics.
What Internet Speed?
If you hear the term ‘bandwidth’, this means the speed of your connection between the internet and your computer. It’s measured in two ways:
- Up – the upload speed of how much data you can send per second
- Down – the download speed of how much data you can receive/send per second
Your connection will change throughout the day, depending on various factors such as peak times for providers or number of devices connected. Use fast.com or CloudFare to test yours prior to consultations.
The minimal amount of bandwidth you’ll need will depend on the software or platform you’re using. It’s common for a provider to post details in the FAQ section of their website.
Which Webcam?
Your webcam will play a key role in telehealth jobs. Many computers and laptops come with an integrated webcam, and this usually works just fine. However, if you choose to purchase a separate webcam, consider these points:
- Camera video processing – this means the camera processes videos to send over the internet, so your computer doesn’t have to, therefore improving your PC’s performance
- Automatic low light correction – improves the quality and clarity of your video, even in low lighting
- Smooth video recording – recommended at 30 frames per second, preventing flickering video
- High-definition – quality video recording at 1080p is perfect
- Stereo microphone – for clear audio, which is crucial in telehealth
A webcam can make all the difference to the quality of your consultations, so ensure yours is of good quality and consider a back-up, just in case.
Knowledge Download Complete: Now Upgrade Your Career
Technology isn’t usually your field of expertise, but you certainly need it on your side when working in telehealth jobs. We haven’t tried to turn you into a tech whizz with this article, but hope it summarizes for you exactly what you need, and gives you the confidence to ensure you have the right technology to make your life much easier and enjoyable.
All set up and ready to go? Check out Telehealth Gigs jobs board now and discover some exciting telehealth jobs your career needs.